Bracket Racket 2/25

Before we get into the bracket, some thoughts on the epic Tennessee-Memphis match-up. Just like every single college hoops writer/ fan out there, I'm feeling 100 times about Tennessee winning the national championship and 1o0 times worse about Memphis. The Vols can beat you in a fast-break high tempo game or a half court slow down game. And unlike last season, this team isn't totally reliant on the three (as shown by winning without Lofton hitting one). As for Memphis, I'm close to going one step further than Winn and not even including the Tigers as a team that can win the title. Not much of a chance they can beat three consecutive top tier teams with such streaky shooting. I'll hold off because you can never trust a Calipari team that thinks it's being disrespected. But the free-throw bug finally caught up with the Tigers on Saturday.

And yeah, the very single Bruce Pearl hitting on Erin Andrews on more than one occasion was amazing.


Bracket Winners

Miami (FL) - I can’t remember the last time a team went from “Solidly outside the bubble” to “Solid 8 or 9 seed” in one week.

UMass - In the A-10, you get a gold star for not losing during the week. Get nod over SJU and Rhody at this point.

Kent State - Win over Saint Mary’s makes us believe that the Golden Flashes will get an at-large bid if they reach the conference semis.

Texas - Horns are the hottest team in the nation and have a legit argument for #1 seed with wins over UCLA, Tennessee and Kansas

Arizona State - Huge win over at Washington should be enough to get the Sun Devils into the field for now

Baylor - Cardiac Bears won absolute must win game vs. Kansas State.

Back to the Bubble

Villanova - Buried about one month ago, Nova has won three straight and are back in bubble discussion with UConn victory.

Kentucky - Forget all the embarrassingly loses (Gardner-Webb, Vanderbilt), 9-3 in the SEC gets you into bubble talk.

UAB - Two-point win over Houston gives the Blazers the edge up for the possible second CUSA bid (don’t rule it out).


Bursting Bubbles


Rhode Island - Rams falling victim to the vicious A-10. They looked like an absolute lock just a month ago, but are probably just outside the bubble after losing twice at home.

Dayton - Officially on life supports after loses to LaSalle and Xavier

Syracuse - Follow up Gtown win with losses to LVille and Notre Dame. No shame in that, but Cuse now must win two of final three.

Ohio State - Can’t name an impressive win since November


Rising up the Bracket

Vanderbilt - Prediction: Dores top #1 Tennessee in hangover game this Tuesday.

Indiana - If they can regroup under Dakich and win the Big Ten, the Hoosiers will be looking at a 2/3 seed

Drake - Win at Butler providers legitimacy for the few remaining doubters

Falling Down the Bracket

Texas A&M - Seriously, no team is getting by with a less impressive resume than the Aggies. 19-7, losers of three straight and only a win over Texas to hang their hats on. My pick to be this year’s “surprising team left out of the Dance”, aka 2007 Syracuse.

Arkansas - Loss to UK means Razorbacks will need to sweep final four to get a bid

Duke - Righted the ship vs. St. John’s, but it is no God given right that the Dookies or UNC will get the #1 seed in the East if they win the weakened ACC.

Top 16 seeds

1 Tennessee (E)
Memphis (S)
UCLA (W)
Duke (M)

2 North Carolina (W)
Texas (S)
Kansas (M)
Stanford (E)

3 Indiana (M)
Georgetown (E)
Louisville (W)
Xavier (S)

4 Purdue (E)
Notre Dame (S)
UConn (M)
Drake (W)


Last Five In:
Arizona State
Saint Joseph’s
Texas A&M
UMass
Florida

Last Five Out:
Kent State
Rhode Island
Maryland
Syracuse
Ohio State
(For more Bubble Talk, check out BD's Bubble Watch on Mondays and Fridays)